Efficient Performance and Lower Complexity of Error Control Schemes for WPAN Bluetooth Networks, Journal of Telecommunications and Information Technology, 2014, nr 4

This paper presents a new technique of reduction retransmission time by decreasing the discarded packets and combating the complexity through error control techniques. The work is based on Bluetooth, one of the most common Wireless Personal Area Network. Its early versions employ an expurgated Hamming code for error correction. In this paper, a new packet format using different error correction coding scheme and new formats for the EDR Bluetooth packets are presented. A study for the Packet Error Probability of classic and Enhanced Data Rate (EDR) packets is also presented to indicate the performance. The simulation experiments are performed over Additive White Gaussian Noise (AWGN) and Rayleigh flat-fading channels. The experimental results reveal that the proposed coding scheme for EDR packets enhances the power efficiency of the Bluetooth system and reduce the losses of EDR packets

A rare case of lethal campomelic dysplasia

Campomelic dysplasia is a rare and mostly lethal congenital malformation. It is known as an autosomal dominant disorder due to mutations in SOX9, a member of the SOX (SRY-related HMG box) gene family. Here we report a case of a 26 years old primigravida married for 3 years with a history of consanguinity. She was impregnated by intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) due to male factor infertility. This mostly lethal skeletal anomaly was diagnosed by detailed ultrasonography in the late second trimester. She underwent an induction of labor termination due to intrauterine fetal demise

Genetic distance and heterogenecity between quasispecies is a critical predictor to IFN response in Egyptian patients with HCV genotype-4

BACKGROUND: HCV is one of the major health problems in Egypt, where it is highly prevalent. Genotype 4 is the most common genotype of HCV and its response to treatment is still a controversy. METHODS: HCV genotype 4 quasispecies diversity within the 5' untranslated region (5'UTR) was studied in a series of 22 native Egyptian patients with chronic hepatitis C virus with no previous treatment who satisfied all NIH criteria for combined treatment of pegylated IFN and ribavirine and was correlated with the outcome of treatment. The study also included 7 control patients with no antiviral treatment. HCV sequencing was done using the TRUGENE HCV 5-NC genotyping kit. RESULTS: At the 48(th )week of treatment, 15 patients (68%) showed virological response. Whereas HCV-RNA was still detected in 7 patients (32%) in this period; of those, 6 experienced a partial virological response followed by viral breakthrough during treatment. Only one patient did not show any virological or chemical response. The four females included in this study were all responders. There was a significant correlation between the response rate and lower fibrosis (p = 0.026) as well as the total number of mutation spots (including all the insertions, deletions, transitions and transversions) (p = 0.007, p = 0.035). CONCLUSION: Patients who responded to interferon treatment had statistically significant less number in both transitions (p = 0.007) and the genetic distances between the quasispecies (p = 0.035). So, viral genetic complexity and variability may play a role in the response to IFN treatment. The consensus alignment of all three groups revealed no characteristic pattern among the three groups. However, the G to A transitions at 160 was observed among non responders who need further study to confirm this observation

DWI-MRI: Single, Informative, and Noninvasive Technique for Prostate Cancer Diagnosis

Aim. To evaluate diffusion weighted image-MRI (DWI) as a single diagnostic noninvasive MRI technique for prostate cancer (PCa) diagnosis. Material and Methods. A prospective study was conducted between July 2008 and July 2009. Candidates patients were equal or more than 40 years old, with suspicious digital rectal examination (more than clinical T2) or PSA >4 ng/mL. Informed consent was signed. DWI-MRI was performed at 1.5 T with a body coil combined with a spine coil in consecutive 100 cases. The histopathology of biopsies has been used as reference standard. Two examiners were evaluating MRI and TRUS, both of them were blinded regarding pathological findings. Accuracy, specificity, and sensitivity were statistically analyzed. Results. Based on pathological diagnosis: group A (cancerous); 75 cases and group B (non-cancerous); 25 cases. Mean age was 65.3 and 62.8 years in groups A and B, respectively. Mean PSA was 30.7 and 9.2 ng/mL in groups A and B, respectively. Sensitivity of DWI was 58.3% while specificity was 83.8%. Accuracy of lesion detection was 52.4–77.8% (P < 0.05). Moreover, DWI at ADC value 1.2 × 10−3 mL/sec could determine 82.4% of true positive cases (P < 0.05). ADC values were lower with Gleason score ≥7 (P < 0.05). Conclusion. DWI could represent a non invasive single diagnostic tool not only in detection and localization but also in prediction of Gleason score whenever DWI is used prior to invasive TRUS biopsy. Furthermore, targeted single biopsy could be planned after DWI to minimize patient morbidity by invasive techniques

Prenatal diagnosis of a rare case of iniencephaly apertus

Iniencephaly is a rare neural tube defect that was firstly reported by Saint-Hilaire in 1836. Its incidence ranges from 0.1 to 10 in 10,000 deliveries with higher incidence in females. The most common features present iniencephaly are bifida at the cervical region, defect in the occipital bone and retroflexion of the head on the cervical spine. Here we report a case of a 24 years old second gravida with a history of consanguinity. She presented with a malformed fetus at 22 weeks gestation diagnosed by detailed ultrasonographic anatomy scan as iniencephaly apparatus. Termination of pregnancy was performed vaginally through medical induction by prostaglandins

Assessment of patients after coronary artery bypass grafting by dobutamine stress echocardiography

Dobutamine stress echocardiography is an accurate method for the diagnosis and localization of vascular compromise in patients evaluated after coronary artery bypass graft surgery. The test provides useful data for selection of patients for whom coronary angiography may be indicated

Functionalized poly(N-isopropylacrylamide)-based microgels in tumor targeting and drug delivery

Over the past several decades, the development of engineered small particles as targeted and drug delivery systems (TDDS) has received great attention thanks to the possibility to overcome the limitations of classical cancer chemotherapy, including targeting incapability, nonspecific action and, consequently, systemic toxicity. Thus, this research aims at using a novel design of Poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) p(NIPAM)-based microgels to specifically target cancer cells and avoid the healthy ones, which is expected to decrease or eliminate the side effects of chemotherapeutic drugs. Smart NIPAM-based microgels were functionalized with acrylic acid and coupled to folic acid (FA), targeting the folate receptors overexpressed by cancer cells and to the chemotherapeutic drug doxorubicin (Dox). The successful conjugation of FA and Dox was demonstrated by dynamic light scattering (DLS), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), UV-VIS analysis, and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). Furthermore, viability assay performed on cancer and healthy breast cells, suggested the microgels’ biocompatibility and the cytotoxic effect of the conjugated drug. On the other hand, the specific tumor targeting of synthetized microgels was demonstrated by a co-cultured (healthy and cancer cells) assay monitored using confocal microscopy and flow cytometry. Results suggest successful targeting of cancer cells and drug release. These data support the use of pNIPAM-based microgels as good candidates as TDDS

EFFECT OF PEGYLATED EDGE ACTIVATOR ON SPAN 60 BASED- NANOVESICLES: COMPARISON BETWEEN MYRJ 52 AND MYRJ 59

Objective: In recent years, Span 60 based nanovesicles have been the object of growing scientific attention as an alternative potential drug delivery system to conventional liposomes. Surface modification of nanovesicles can adjust the drug release rate and the affinity for the target site. The aim of present work was firstly to study the effects of different PEGylated edge activator (Myrj 52 and Myrj 59) on Span 60 based nanovesicles.Methods: Nanovesicles were prepared using Span 60 alone or in combination with Myrj 52 (polyethylene glycol 2000 monostearate) or Myrj 59 (polyethylene glycol 4400 monostearate) by employing the ethanol injection method. Myrj 52 and Myrj 59 are hydrophilic nonionic surfactants were used to modify the surface of the developed vesicles. Dynamic light scattering was used to determine the size, zeta potential and polydispersity index of the nanovesicles formulation. The vesicles were also characterized for entrapment efficiency and in vitro release.Results: In current work, the modified nanovesicles size (ranging from 54.32 to 141.7 nm), zeta potential (ranging from -5.67 to -27.1 mV) and polydispersity index (ranging from0.248 to 0.531) indicated that the surface modified nanovesicles vesicles are a homogenous and mono-disperse nanovesicles dispersions. The non-modified nanovesicles are showed higher particles size (&gt;2 times) compared to modified nanovesicles. The modified nanovesicles were showed entrapment efficiency ranging from 36.42 to 78.13 %. All the modified nanovesicles showed accepted in vitro release of TN from nanovesicles (&gt;70% released after 8 h), followed Higuchi models as drug release mechanism.Conclusion: In conclusion, these surface modified nanovesicles could be used as a potential drug carrier for a variety of drugs. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Peer Review History: Received 16 July 2019; &nbsp;&nbsp;Revised 12 August; Accepted 9 September, Available online 15 September 2019 Academic Editor: Prof. Dr. Gorkem Dulger, Duzce University, Turkey, [email protected] UJPR follows the most transparent and toughest ‘Advanced OPEN peer review’ system. The identity of the authors and, reviewers will be known to each other. This transparent process will help to eradicate any possible malicious/purposeful interference by any person (publishing staff, reviewer, editor, author, etc) during peer review. As a result of this unique system, all reviewers will get their due recognition and respect, once their names are published in the papers. We expect that, by publishing peer review reports with published papers, will be helpful to many authors for drafting their article according to the specifications. Auhors will remove any error of their article and they will improve their article(s) according to the previous reports displayed with published article(s). The main purpose of it is ‘to improve the quality of a candidate manuscript’. Our reviewers check the ‘strength and weakness of a manuscript honestly’. There will increase in the perfection, and transparency. Received file:&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Reviewer's Comments: Average Peer review marks at initial stage: 6.5/10 Average Peer review marks at publication stage: 9.5/10 Reviewer(s) detail: Dr. Robert Tungadi, State University of Gorontalo, Indonesia, [email protected] Prof. Dr. Kapil Kumar, Global Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, Kashipur, US Nagar, Uttarakhand, India, [email protected] Similar Articles: SCREENING STUDY FOR FORMULATION VARIABLES IN PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF CANDESARTAN CILEXETIL LOADED NANOSTRUCTURED LIPID CARRIER

Molecular Characterization of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and non-O157 Shiga Toxin Producing E. coli from Retail Meat and Humans

A total of 550 meat samples (300 minced beef and 250 chicken meat) marketed in Zagazig City, Sharkia Governorate, Egypt, as well as 150 human stool samples were examined for Shiga toxin producing E. coli. Results revealed that the isolation rates of E. coli O157:H7 versus non- O157 were 1.7% versus 2.3% in minced beef, 0.8% versus 2% in chicken meat and 0.7% versus 2.7% in human stools. Other identified serotypes were including O111:H8 (25%), O26:H11 (20.8%), O55:H7 (16.7%) and O113:H21 (4.2%). Virulence associated genes were identified in E. coli serotypes, stx1 and stx2 were characterized in 16.7% and 62.5% of the isolates, while, eaeA and hlyA genes were identified in 50% and 70.8% of the examined serotypes, respectively. Genotyping of E. coli O157:H7 serotype from different sources using Enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus polymerase chain reaction (ERIC-PCR) fingerprinting revealed heterogenicity of the isolates, however, human and minced beef isolates were grouped in the same cluster indicating potential transmission of infection from contaminated beef to human consumers. In conclusion, ERIC-PCR is a highly discriminatory, reliable and cost-effective tool for tracing sources of infection with bacteria. Public health education and application of strict hygienic measures during slaughtering, transportation and preparation of meat are essential to minimize the risk of contamination and transmission of infection to consumer